The Care Collective Podcast

Talking with an aging parent about giving up the car keys, accepting help, moving into assisted living, or managing finances can feel overwhelming. Even when you know the conversation is necessary, it can quickly turn into frustration, resistance, or conflict.In this episode of The Care Collective Podcast, I'm joined by Edla Prevette, licensed mental health therapist and caregiver coach. Drawing from both her professional expertise and years of caring for her own parents, Edla shares practical strategies for communicating with aging loved ones in ways that build trust instead of tension.Together, we discuss why connection should come before problem-solving, how to recognize when conversations are escalating, ways to regulate both yourself and your loved one during difficult moments, and how grief, role reversal, and sibling dynamics all impact the caregiving journey.Whether you're just beginning to support an aging parent or you've been caregiving for years, this episode offers actionable tools to help you approach difficult conversations with more confidence and compassion.In this episode, we discuss:Why connection comes before cooperationHow to approach difficult conversations without creating conflictSigns a conversation is beginning to escalateCommunication techniques that help aging parents feel heardThe emotional impact of role reversal between parents and adult childrenNavigating grief while your loved one is still livingManaging sibling disagreements during caregivingWhy understanding normal aging can improve communicationPractical ways to build trust before tackling difficult decisionsResources MentionedEdla Prevette: https://www.edlaprevette.comFree One-Eighty Workbook: https://www.edlaprevette.com/oneeightyworkbookListen to The Care Collective PodcastFollow the podcast and find all episodes here: https://linktr.ee/CarecollectivepodcastAbout The Care Collective PodcastThe Care Collective Podcast shares honest conversations about caregiving, aging, grief, resilience, and the emotional realities of supporting the people we love. Our goal is to help caregivers feel seen, supported, and less alone.

What does it really mean to become a caregiver?For many family caregivers, it isn't a role they choose—it's one that slowly finds them. One day you're the child, and the next you're managing doctor's appointments, medications, difficult conversations, and the emotional weight of watching someone you love change.In this episode of The Care Collective Podcast, Mikayla sits down with Yasmin Shah, caregiver advocate, author of Caregiving for Seniors, and founder of VillageCore. Drawing from more than 20 years in the caregiving and aging space and her own experience caring for both of her parents, Yasmin shares honest stories and practical wisdom for navigating one of life's most challenging roles.Together, they discuss:When you realize you've become a caregiverWhy caregiver guilt can be so overwhelming—and how to replace it with self-compassionSupporting a loved one living with dementiaNavigating difficult conversations about driving, independence, and end-of-life wishesWhy planning ahead can reduce stress for the entire familyHow technology and AI may help simplify caregiving in the futureThe importance of protecting your own health, relationships, and emotional well-being while caring for someone elseWhether you're caring for an aging parent, supporting a spouse, or preparing for the future, this conversation offers practical advice and compassionate encouragement to remind you that you don't have to carry the weight of caregiving alone.Connect with Yasmin: VillageCore: https://villagecore.orgFind her book here: https://villagecore.org/bookListen to The Care Collective PodcastFollow the podcast and find all episodes here: https://linktr.ee/CarecollectivepodcastAbout The Care Collective PodcastThe Care Collective Podcast shares honest conversations about caregiving, aging, grief, resilience, and the emotional realities of supporting the people we love. Our goal is to help caregivers feel seen, supported, and less alone.

Caring for an aging loved one often means managing prescriptions, watching for side effects, and trying to make sense of complicated medical information. But how do you know whether a new symptom is caused by a health condition, or by one of their medications?In this episode of The Care Collective, Mikayla speaks with Bri, a geriatric pharmacist known as the Caregiver Pharmacist, about medication safety for older adults and the essential role caregivers play in the healthcare process.Bri explains how older adults can end up taking dozens of medications, how one prescription can sometimes lead to a “prescribing cascade,” and why dizziness, falls, confusion, fatigue, appetite changes, and changes in mobility should never be dismissed.They also discuss polypharmacy, deprescribing, medication side effects, pharmacogenomic testing, and how genetics can affect the way a person responds to certain prescriptions.You’ll learn practical questions to bring to your loved one’s next medical appointment, including:“What is this medication for?”“Is this medication still necessary?”“Could any medications be contributing to these symptoms?”“What side effects should we watch for?”“What is the long-term plan for this medication?”Whether you are caring for a parent, spouse, grandparent, or another loved one, this conversation will help you feel more informed and confident when discussing medications with their healthcare providers.This episode is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing a medication.Find Bri's Instagram here: @thecaregiverpharmacisthttps://www.instagram.com/thecaregiverpharmacistListen to The Care Collective PodcastFollow the podcast and find all episodes here: https://linktr.ee/CarecollectivepodcastAbout The Care Collective PodcastThe Care Collective Podcast shares honest conversations about caregiving, aging, grief, resilience, and the emotional realities of supporting the people we love. Our goal is to help caregivers feel seen, supported, and less alone.

What happens when the person you're grieving... is yourself?Caregiving has a way of quietly changing us. Not overnight, but little by little, until we wake up one day feeling like we've lost touch with the person we used to be.In this episode, we're unpacking why that happens, what psychology teaches us about identity loss and grief, and why missing the person you were doesn't mean you'll never love the person you're becoming._______________________________Listen to The Care Collective PodcastFollow the podcast and find all episodes here: https://linktr.ee/CarecollectivepodcastAbout The Care Collective PodcastThe Care Collective Podcast shares honest conversations about caregiving, aging, grief, resilience, and the emotional realities of supporting the people we love. Our goal is to help caregivers feel seen, supported, and less alone.

Episode DescriptionHave you ever looked at an old photo of yourself and wondered, What happened to that version of me?Caregiving has a way of quietly reshaping our lives. One appointment becomes dozens. One act of helping becomes years of responsibility. And somewhere along the way, it's easy to lose sight of the person you were before caregiving became part of your identity.In this solo episode, Mikayla explores the often-overlooked grief of losing yourself while caring for someone else. Together, we'll talk about identity, role engulfment, the invisible sacrifices caregivers make, and why missing your old life doesn't mean you love your person any less.If you've ever felt like you've become "just the caregiver," this conversation is your reminder that you're still in there.In this episode, we discuss:Why caregivers often feel like they've lost their identityThe invisible sacrifices that come with caregivingWhat role engulfment is and how it affects your sense of selfWhy grieving your old life is a normal part of the caregiving journeySmall, meaningful ways to reconnect with yourself again💛 If this episode resonated with you, please consider following the podcast, leaving a review, or sharing it with another caregiver who needs this reminder: You are more than the role you carry.Listen to The Care Collective PodcastFollow the podcast and find all episodes here: https://linktr.ee/CarecollectivepodcastAbout The Care Collective PodcastThe Care Collective Podcast shares honest conversations about caregiving, aging, grief, resilience, and the emotional realities of supporting the people we love. Our goal is to help caregivers feel seen, supported, and less alone.